Beth Brown

“Easy” is actually my only happy love song funnily enough. I am usually quiet the brooder but this song really surprised me! I was inspired by the first stage’s of getting to know someone, the innocence and delight of the honey moon phase of love. I’m a hopeless romantic at heart so this is a very true reflection of me…love the cheese factor!

2. Was it hard to write the song or was it an easy process?

Every song has its own little personality and way of bringing it into life. “Easy” came from experimenting on the guitar in an open tuning and then this light little melody came into my head as I was driving through the Tennessee mountains to meet with Butterfly for a writing session. She is an incredible bass player, touring with Sarah McLachlan for over 10 years, she has an incredible pop sensibility and worked out the harmonic bed. Then it was a matter of writing lyrics together. That is another one of her many giftings, to capture a poetic concept tastefully and with depth of meaning. I learnt so much from working with her. I was nervous heading to the writes but as soon as i arrived I found she was not only exceptionally talented but one of the most humble humans on the planet.

3. Was the recording process different to earlier material?

Absolutely my first experience working with Brad Jones (Missy Higgins/Bob Evans/Busby Marou) at Alex the Great Studios Nashville was fantastic and very much on the fly. He had organised some of the best session musicians in the world, Chris Carmichael played strings and is the principal arranger for Alison Krauss, Taylor Swift and Faith Hill.

With the new EP Dream Coat we spent more time in the Pre-Production phase. We entered the studio with track bed’s produced by the amazing Mike McDonald and worked in instrumental tracks from the ground up. I was extremely lucky to have Chris Carmichael travel from Kentucky to do the sessions again. I feel like his string sections work so beautifully in “Easy” alongside some pretty beautifully played ukulele by yours truly.

4. Are you happy how it all gone so far?

My time in the US has been incredible. After being awarded the a Nashville Songwriting Residency by the Australian Arts Council in June this year I was able to really hon my skills as a songwriter on Music Row. Invited to write with Jerry Sally (Chris Stapleton), Shannon Sanders (John Legend) and Robert White Johnson (Celine Dion) I feel like a have a solid footing in the writing and publishing circles of Music Row and i’m excited to continue to take Australian Arts into these influential forums.

5. How did it feel to become part of the Gretch Guitar family?

It’s such an honour to be welcomed into the Gretsch family personally by owner Fred Gretsch and I’m so humbled to be their current International Feature Artist.

6. How do you think that will help you with career?

They have been incredible supporters, from providing a beautiful Vintage Select Edition ’55 White Falcon to promoting my artistry and providing tour support in the US for 2017.

7. Do you have moments where you just can’t write?

Haha absolutely, that’s when you know its time to gig and play out.

8. Do you have any releases in the pipeline?

“Easy” is our first single release of a body of work Debut EP Dream Coat which is being released in March 2017.

9. What do you hope people get out of your shows?

I hope its a really joyful time for the audience. To connect, share the Nashville stories and get an intimate insight into my songwriting catalogue as well as tracks from the EP Dream Coat. I really wanted to tour in my home territories first before heading over to the US in 2017 and hand it back to the people and audiences who have been there from the very beginning.

10. What do you hope 2017 has in store for you?

I wish I could say right now! We have just received some pretty big news this week in regards to playing at Festivals in the US, so please stay tuned and follow me on the socials. People can find me at www.bethbrownmusic.com and subscribe to hear all the announcements and have access to new music first.

Shannon Hurley

Ok so I’ve been supporting Shannon Hurley career for a while now, I think she is an amazing singer songwriter. She has an amazing voice and a good catalogue of tunes that are a pleasure to listen to.

She just put out her new video clip Heartbeat On The Radio and boy it’s a fun clip and doesn’t she look sexy as Barbarella. She looks awesome in the blonde wig and the outfit just shows off how awesome her body looks and how stunning she really is.

This why I have made this stunning singer songwriter my Beauty Of The Week again

Christie Lamb – Flamethrower

Ok so Christie Lamb smoking hot new tune Flamethrower comes out 7pm tonight and it’s an awesome tune and if you love her music much as I do. Then I suggested you do this get it from ITunes or any good digital music retailer. I prefer ZDigital or Google Play but just get the tune it’s awesome. Christie looks stunning in the video clip.

I love what Bell is doing, she is a fantastic singer songwriter. Dug what she has done from day one and this is her latest track and it is a killer tune. Good vibe, energy and all around great track to listen to.

Australian born indie-pop songstress Beth Brown is the first Australian female to sign to the Gretsch Guitar USA family, captivating international audiences with her earthy and infectiously joyful tunes, trailblazing pathways to the U.S.

Her debut EP “Dream Coat” will be released in 2017, leading with single “Easy” which came out last thursday followed by an Australian Tour early January. Partnering with highly celebrated U.S. producer Brad Jones, Brown joins a list of critically acclaimed Australian Artists including Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher.
Taking a cue from industry changers like the Beatles, Jeff Buckley, and Prince, Brown loves the challenge of taking analogue instruments and placing them into contemporary production spheres and arrangements. Inspired by classic rockers like Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin, Brown’s respect for 1970’s glam is apparent in her melodies.

Relocating to Nashville in 2015, Brown shares that “[Nashville] has been the experience of a lifetime, and has lived up to its reputation as Music City. I’ve never felt so challenged and alive. It’s exactly what I wanted. Writing with Butterfly Boucher on this single was an absolute dream”.

Brown made her debut US appearance at Americana Fest 2015, playing Nashville’s prestigious Blue Bird Café and becoming the first female Australian artist to be endorsed by The Gretsch Company, welcomed personally by owner Fred Gretsch.

Co-writing with greats such as Shannon Sanders and Jerry Sally has launched Beth into the creative circles that have penned for mega-recording artists John Legend, Chris Stapleton, Celine Dion and India Arie.

I adore Christie Lamb and love all the amazing music she has done. She has released her new killer tune Flamethrower. She is one of the best country singer songwriters performing in Australia right now. She just signed to ABC Music. She is a star and I can’t wait to hear more.

Katey Laurel

Photos by Art Heffron

Katey Laurel is a fantastic singer songwriter from America who career I have been supporting for a while now. With a Christmas album coming out titled This Is Christmas. I wanted to give this incredibly beautiful woman some more love on my site by making her a beauty of the week. I suggest you get the album, I have.

Allison Kugel

So Allison is releasing a book which I am very much looking forward to reading. I thought I would make her my beauty of the week this week. Why because she is drop dead gorgeous, a total sweetheart. Just look at her she is stunning and a real pleasure to know and lucky to have been able to interview her.

Allison Kugel

Allison Kugel is one of my favorite people I have interviewed on the site. She has written a book called Journaling Fame: A Memoir of a Life Unhinged and on the Record. She aims to have it out in February and I asked her about the book and more.

1. Why did you write the book?

This book began as a diary during a tumultuous time in my life, when I had resigned from my position as Senior Editor of PR.com, I was going through a divorce, and experiencing a large amount of anxiety in my life. I began journaling about the anxiety and panic attacks I was experiencing since writing has always been my outlet. That journaling began to bleed into journaling about my experiences in interviewing so many famous people over a ten year period. Before I knew it, I could see the makings of a book. A hybrid of my personal experiences and challenges, and my professional experiences as an entertainment journalist.

2. How did work out the way the book was going to be structured?

Well the book kind of found its own way, because as I mention, it really started off as a journal, and very stream of consciousness. I took a look at the content and realized I had a great story to share, and so then I began to structure it into chapters. But the book still has this sort of non-linear structure that takes you into flashbacks, present day, and back again. It takes you on a journey that has both light and dark moments.

3. Were you happy how it all came out in the end?

Yes, very much so. I really hope that people will get a lot out of reading my story. I hope to inspire people with both my successes but also my failures and challenges. My story, like most people’s stories, is a dramedy.

4. Was it hard to get a publisher involved in the book?

At this point it is being self-published, but with an excellent production team whom I trust with their expertise. It could find its way to a traditional publisher, but I felt two things. Number one, I wanted to tell my story the way I want to tell it. Number two, I knew I had the capability of getting the word out about my book. So far I have gotten more press before it’s even come out than some people get with a traditional publisher once their book is released.

5. When do you plan to have the book out?

I am looking at February of 2017 right now.

6. Are you happy with the buzz you are getting with the pr for the book being released?

Very much so. I am so pleased with the early buzz for my book and I am even more excited to have some of these same journalists actually give it a read and review it once it is out.

7. What did you learn from the making of this book?

I’ve learned that everyone should engage in the exercise of sitting down in front of a computer and writing their memoir, whether it is for public consumption or just for yourself or your family. It is such an incredible exercise to embark on, and so therapeutic.

8. What do you think has been the major highlight of your career and your life in general?

The major highlight of my life is my son, and all that I am putting into raising him and shaping him into the man he will become, along with his father. The major highlight of my career is a tricky one, because I no longer believe in destinations. I only believe in the journey at this point. But really, it’s been all about people. I would probably say the 10 years I spent interviewing people as a journalist has been a highlight, because it was truly my honor to tell these people’s stories to my readers.

9. Do you have a favorite interview you have done or are their just too many?

I would say some of my favorites were Russell Simmons, Kristin Chenoweth, Mike Tyson, Jenna Jameson, Congressman Ron Paul, Chilli from the group TLC, Shannen Doherty, Kathy Hilton, Melissa Rivers, 50 Cent and Giuliana Rancic. These are really good people whose company I enjoyed whether the recorder was on or not.

10. Is it always wise to be prepared when interviewing a celebrity?

Oh, yes! It is a job and I took my job very seriously. I would spend a good 24 hours in deep preparation, learning about the person’s life and career. It was very important to me. I didn’t have someone else do the research for me and just hand me some notes. That’s ridiculous, and kind of disrespectful in my opinion.

11. Do you always have a backup plan if it doesn’t go the way you want it to?

N/A LOL

12. Why do you think so many people like to be controversial and try and ask questions about their private life especially when something has happened?

I think it comes down to a lack of creativity. In my interviews I always found it more beneficial to ask outside the box questions that other journalists would never think to ask. I found that I was able to get media coverage for my interviews and create great sound bites and quotes to promote without embarrassing anyone.

13. What next for yourself?

Continuing to grow my app, the Upitch App and perhaps there is another book